Anonymous
Post 01/26/2026 08:39     Subject: Camp lunches with restrictions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My picky toddler loves cold white bean pasta- pasta fagiole. Has protein and fiber.

I’ll try the chickpea butter and quesadillas too- thanks PP. Do folks do cold quesadillas?



I am the one who suggested it. My kids are fine with cold quesadilla. One of my kids likes cold refried beans inside, but my other prefers just cheese in the cold quesadilla and hot black beans inside a thermos on the side. They will both eat cold lentil taco meat in a cold quesadilla.


Thanks! Do you have a recipe for lentil taco meat, or is that something you can buy premade?


If I am making them quickly for lunch, and I want them nut free, I take a can or brown lentils, rinse, and saute them with taco seasoning and a fair amount of oil. Fast and easy. When mixed with sharp cheddar in a quesadilla they taste fine, especially if I provide mild salsa to dip them in.

I make my own taco seasoning, using this recipe with some modifications: https://minimalistbaker.com/the-best-homemade-taco-seasoning/ because we have an adult who needs to watch salt. But I've also used the taco seasoning from a packet and it tastes fine.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2026 08:20     Subject: Camp lunches with restrictions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My picky toddler loves cold white bean pasta- pasta fagiole. Has protein and fiber.

I’ll try the chickpea butter and quesadillas too- thanks PP. Do folks do cold quesadillas?



I am the one who suggested it. My kids are fine with cold quesadilla. One of my kids likes cold refried beans inside, but my other prefers just cheese in the cold quesadilla and hot black beans inside a thermos on the side. They will both eat cold lentil taco meat in a cold quesadilla.


Thanks! Do you have a recipe for lentil taco meat, or is that something you can buy premade?
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2026 20:27     Subject: Camp lunches with restrictions
I’d do something like the Lunchables Pizzas, basically cut out small thin pizza crusts from a larger one, and send the kid with a small container of pizza sauce and a separate container of shredded cheese. You could also try wrap sandwiches with a wrap, plain or veggie cream cheese, and various vegetables as the filling. Macaroni and cheese or pasta stays warm pretty well if packed in a hot thermos.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2026 19:16     Subject: Camp lunches with restrictions
Anonymous wrote:Looking for some ideas for camp lunches when the camp has food restrictions on what can be brought. DD7 is going to a new day camp this summer and just found out it is going nut-free and meat-free this summer (some campers are kosher so it is a camp-wide rule).

Our school-year go-to lunches are PBJ and deli meat sandwiches, so those are obviously out. What are some good ideas for entrees that are nut-free and meat-free? She dislikes sunbutter (don't blame her) and doesn't care for protein bars. She will reliably eat bagels with cream cheese and sometimes will eat hummus and pita. I could send a plain jelly sandwich I guess but then she's lacking with protein and it is not really filling. Sides are no issue as she loves all fruit, veggies, and cheese.


If your kid likes jelly, some kids will eat a cream cheese and jelly sandwich. I personally don't see that much of a difference between sun butter and PB (as long as the sun butter has a touch of added salt and sugar). I liked a PPs idea to add some honey or something to the sun butter. If I recall correctly, the sun butter is actually more nutritious than PB as well.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2026 18:45     Subject: Camp lunches with restrictions
When I worked at a JCC camp, my go-to were tuna sandwiched (fish is not considered meat).
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2026 18:32     Subject: Camp lunches with restrictions
Muffins!
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2026 14:14     Subject: Camp lunches with restrictions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My picky toddler loves cold white bean pasta- pasta fagiole. Has protein and fiber.

I’ll try the chickpea butter and quesadillas too- thanks PP. Do folks do cold quesadillas?



I am the one who suggested it. My kids are fine with cold quesadilla. One of my kids likes cold refried beans inside, but my other prefers just cheese in the cold quesadilla and hot black beans inside a thermos on the side. They will both eat cold lentil taco meat in a cold quesadilla.


I also suggested quesadilla and my kid likes black bean and cheese and eats them out of the lunchbox with no heating.